MAX 9 - MAX ZINN OLIVE GROWER

 MAX9 - MAX ZINN OLIVE GROWER

One afternoon, as Max and Carlos walked through the olive grove, Max’s sensitive nose caught the aroma of green olives ready to be picked.

Max said, “Carlos, I think the green olives will be ready soon. Are we ready? 

Carlos answered, “Max, we are ready - give me a couple of days to get our crates and equipment ready.”

*****

Traditional olive picking has been done by hand for centuries. Mechanical methods can cause the olives to get bruised or fall on the ground. But, at American Olive Growers, they used more technology to make a better product.  

A puffy upside-down umbrella device was put under a tree, and then staff gently shook the branches, causing the olives to fall. The olives did not bruise. When the umbrella device was packed, a drain was opened at the device’s base, and a slide moved the olives into a large bin.

*****

Max had invited Dr. Louise Larkner and any of her students. Now that he knew Louise was a lesbian, he also told Louise to bring along her partner. They were going to pick next week on Thursday. Louise returned to Max, saying she’d have a minibus with about 12 graduate students and maybe three others (including Inez Sanchez - her partner).  

The students were encouraged to join in harvesting the olives (and getting paid). Other 

But, this year, the crop was abundant, and before all the olives fell, the crew stopped the shaking to move the olives already picked into the bin before finishing picking the olives. The bins were loaded onto a tractor that could haul 12 bins (6 on a side).  

Max and Carlos were excited about the abundance of the olives and the quality of the olives. 

*****

Yesenia Garza was informed by the Bluff County Sheriff’s office that Juan Garza’s body was ready to be released for burial.  

About time, Yesenia thought. She had let both sides of the family know that Juan had died and a funeral would be forthcoming. She also had told them that because of Juan’s death circumstances, his body was kept by the Bluff County’s Coroner’s Office, and she would let them know when the funeral would be held. The Brusie Funeral Home in Chico was going to handle the arrangements. The Funeral Mass would be at St. James Church in Durham. 

Her cousin, Father John Ortiz, would perform the Funeral Mass with burial in St. Thomas Cemetary in Oroville, California - where two of Juan’s siblings were buried.

It had been a long two weeks since she had heard of Juan’s death. Her friend Lara Medina had been great in this time of sorrow. But, there were rumors that Juan was abusive. Lara had tried to suggest to Yesenia that Juan had abused her.

At first, Yesenia denied the accusations - she had failed him by little things, and he was justified by beating and slapping her. She had failed to iron his favorite shirt once because she had to work overtime and pick up Miguel at school. He had come close to breaking her arm at that time. Sometimes, it put his lighted cigarette onto her skin because she had somehow offended him.  

Her father had abused her mother occasionally, and she accepted that men were entitled to hit, slap, push, cut, and beat their wives. One evening, Lara had taken Yesenia to a women’s meeting at the Durham library, where a social worker shared about abuse.  

Coming home, Yesenia leaned over to Lara in the car and quietly said, “I didn’t understand. Juan did beat me, yelled at me, slapped me, and hurt me. I thought that was normal, but now I understand that wasn’t acceptable.”

*****

 Deputy Sheriff Jose Hinojosa visited Yesenia the same day Juan’s body was released.  

Deputy Hinojosa said, “Mrs. Garza, I owe you an explanation. May I come in?”

Yesenia said, “Yes,” and motioned for the deputy to sit on the sofa. Miguel was playing with Pedro Medina, and she had time.

Jose Hinojosa started, “Ma’am, I’m sorry for some of the information I’ll be passing on to you. These are the facts determined by the sheriff’s office and the coroner.

“At the time of his death, Juan Garza was on the property of American Olive Growers - a company he was fired from two years ago for stealing olives. He was high on heroin and alcohol, so high that the coroner was surprised he could even stand up. He had jugs of poisons that he dumped out on the trees to kill the trees and other vegetation. His intent seems to be to get back to his previous employer.  

“He seemingly was with another person. He was shot in the head with a 22-caliber pistol and died instantly. The other person left and took the car. Two days later, we found the car in a ditch on a rarely used road. We don’t know who killed me.  

“Around the community, your husband was known as a bad hombre. He supposedly rapped three women, but none pressed charges. He slapped and abused those women; two have filed briefs of his abuse with them. One had broken ribs from being pushed down stairs, and another had permanent spinal disability from his breaking her back.  

“He owed money to many people. He gambled with some of his money; he bought and sold drugs - including some to teenagers. He took one of his women and forced her to have sex with six drunk men one night.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but these are facts. Your husband was a real jerk.”

“We don’t know who killed him. Several suspects - maybe even half the community- wanted to see him dead or gone. The evening of the shooting, he was at the Empire Club until 10:30 and was drunk and high, and the bartender kicked him out for fighting and swearing.  

“We honor you for staying with him and trying to raise your son in a good family but also suggesting he was a bad man.”

Deputy Hinojosa stopped his speech and looked at Yesenia Garza, who was openly crying.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but the sheriff’s office thinks you are better off without him. We found that he was a veteran and will receive his funeral expenses. You will receive his veteran benefits, and your son will receive social security benefits until he turns 18. 

Deputy Hinojosa excused himself and left. Yesenia called her friend Lara Medina.

Lara came over and helped comfort her friend.  

*****

The bus from the University of California-Davis arrived with twenty-five people. Louise Larkner had predicted fifteen, but ten additional students came when the students shared they would be getting paid for helping.

Carlos and Max had poles for all the students. He showed them how to gently shake the olive trees to get the green olives to fall. Their regular staff was helping with the puffy blanket that the olives would fall into and making sure there weren’t any extra branches in the tubes that went to the bins and would back up the process.

Louise introduced her partner to Max, and he greeted her warmly. 

There was another student with Louise and Inez. The three grabbed poles and helped loosen the olives into the collection blanket.   

Some olive studies majors asked Max and Carlos about the olive grove and its operations. 

By seven o’clock, the team had finished about one-third of the grove, and Max and Carlos had pizza and beer for the students.  

Max had also hired a mariachi band to play for the after-picking party. It was a festive occasion.

*****

Tina Martinez had come with Inez Sanchez and Louise Larkner. She froze when she got off the bus and recognized Max from her weekend in Sacramento. She stayed out of Max’s view as they shook the branches to get the olives.

*****

Max and Carlos had been good hosts at the party, talking and thanking the students. As they approached Louise and Inez’s table, one of the girls excused herself for the bathroom. Somehow, that seemed odd to Max.

At about nine o’clock, the student group was ready to return to campus. The girl who had been absent when Max and Carlos had visited their table hung back.  

Max was outside as the students got on the bus. He was saying thank you to them. The girl came over to him and said, “My name is Tina, and I know you.”

Max took a good look at her and immediately flushed red. This was the call girl he had sex with on the weekend in Sacramento. Max stopped in his tracks.  

Tina continued, “Thank you for having us here today. And thank you for our weekend in Sacramento.”

Max stammered out, “Ah, thank you for coming.”

Then he said, “I’m sorry. I can be a lonely man. I’ve never done that before.”

Tina continued, “And I know somebody who used to work here - Juan Garza. I’ve heard he died.”

Max was at a loss for words.

Tina said, “He was an evil man. I didn’t know he was married, and he dated and abused and hit me. I’m glad he is dead.” 

Then Tina got a big smile. “If you’d like to date me in the future, you sure can. You won’t have to drive to Sacramento. I did have a good time with you. You were caring and gentle.”

Max struggled to respond. “Tina, I’d like to do that.”

They exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. Max asked, trying to sound casual, “Are you free this weekend, Tina?”.

Tina laughed, “I have a term paper I’m working on. If you let me write during the day, we can spend time together at night.”

Tina grabbed Max and hugged him. “I’ll come about ten on Saturday if that’s alright.”

Max, turning redder, said, “Yes.”

He watched as she got on the bus, and the bus left for Davis.

*****

On the bus, Inez asked Tina what Tina and Max discussed and how she knew him.

Tina answered, “It’s kind of a long story, Dr. Sanchez. But he invited me for a date this weekend.”  

Inez smiled and put her head on Louise Larkner’s shoulder for the rest of the trip.

*****